Data supports belief that Christmas-themed merchandise, songs and decorations are appearing ahead of season

Halloween might not yet be upon us, but the creepy thing is, Christmas is coming – and fast.

A Guardian analysis shows that the Grinch-like grumble that “Christmas is getting earlier every year” is actually justified. Figures from major supermarkets, local news bulletins and the UK Top 40 charts confirm what members of the public have long suspected: that the slow and steady takeover of the calendar by Christmas-themed items, songs and adverts – a phenomenon known as “Christmas creep” – is in fact real.